Google has joined the viral 'Viking Row' celebration trend by adding an animated feature that appears when users search for Norway star Erling Haaland. The feature, launched during the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026, shows animated figures wearing Viking-style horns and a Norwegian flag performing the synchronized rowing motion.
How the Google Viking Row animation works
When users search for Haaland on Google, a party-pop icon appears. Clicking the icon triggers animated figures with Viking horns and a Norwegian flag on their heads, mimicking the famous celebration. Repeated clicks play the sound of drums followed by a collective shout of 'Ro!', the signature chant of the Viking Row.
The celebration, in which supporters mimic rowing a Viking longboat, has gone viral globally. Norway's players, including Haaland and captain Martin Odegaard, join fans in the rowing motion after victories. Norway's remarkable run includes a 2-1 win over Brazil and a quarterfinal clash against England scheduled for July 12 at 2:30 AM IST in Miami.
Haaland's reaction and World Cup stats
Haaland acknowledged the Google feature on X, writing, "One thing to do today... search my name on Google." The Manchester City striker is among the Golden Boot contenders with seven goals, just one behind Argentina's Lionel Messi. He is averaging a goal every 14 touches, the lowest ratio for any player with three or more goals in a single World Cup in the past 60 years.
According to tournament data, Haaland has scored seven goals from 18 shots, a 39% conversion rate—the best finishing efficiency (with 15+ shots) since Gary Lineker in 1986 (40%). His brace against Brazil took his tally to seven, making him the player with the joint-most goals in a debut World Cup since Poland's Grzegorz Lato in 1974.
Haaland's rap past resurfaces
Haaland also surprised fans by releasing a remix of his 2016 rap song 'Kygo jo' with Norwegian DJ Kygo. The original track was created with national team under-17 teammates Erik Botheim and Erik Tobias Sandberg under the group 'Flow Kingz'. Haaland, then a teenager at Bryne, explained in his first Manchester City interview: "It is a group of three. We were a bit bored, so we decided to make a rap song!"
Kygo had teased the remix if Norway beat Brazil. After Haaland's brace secured a 2-1 win, Kygo released the remix. The song has 8.9 million views on YouTube. Haaland posted on Instagram: "Made it moment! Thanks, @kygomusic. Does this mean I'm officially an artist now?"
Norway's historic World Cup run
Norway is competing in the World Cup for the first time in 28 years. They are the only side among 91 nations Brazil has faced that Brazil has never beaten, with two draws and three losses in five meetings. The upcoming quarterfinal against England pits Haaland against Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham.
